Wartime radar operators reunite

The transmitter block at Bawdsey houses wartime exhibits

Radar operators from World War II have returned to the world's first working military radar station for a reunion and open day.

Bawdsey Research Station at Bawdsey Manor, near Woodbridge in Suffolk, hosted the event on Saturday.

Wally Morton, a former radar operator, said the technology had been invaluable to the RAF in the Battle of Britain.

He said "it would have been impossible for them to defeat the Luftwaffe" in 1940 without the use of radar.

Mr Morton added: "As Churchill said, never had so many owed so much to so few, but without radar, those boys would not have been able to do their job."

Restoration bid

Scottish physicist Sir Robert Watson-Watt developed the Chain Home radar system, which became operational in 1937 at the transmitter block at Bawdsey Manor.

The first ever working radar station used in defence, it became one of a chain of stations along the south coast and could detect approaching bombers from more than 150km.

Now though, the transmitter block and the radar mast are falling into disrepair.

The Grade II-listed station is among the historic buildings competing in the next series of Restoration on BBC Two.